S. Korean athleisure wear maker to open mega-sized 'pop-up store' in Japan to attract more offline customers

SEOUL -- Andar, a popular South Korean athleisure brand, will open a mega-sized, two-story pop-up store in an Osaka, Japan department store. The brand aims to attract more Japanese customers through offline experiences after gaining popularity on Japanese ecommerce platforms. Athleisure clothing gained popularity in South Korea over the last decade as people sought comfortable, versatile clothes for indoor training like Pilates and CrossFit. This trend, particularly favored by you

February 26, 2024

[MWC 24] 'MWC' becomes showcase venue for 2,400 global tech firms

BARCELONA -- Some 2,400 global companies will participate in the Mobile World Congress, an annual mobile device exhibition held in Barcelona from February 26 to February 29. With the theme titled "Future First," exhibitors will present artificial intelligence and other high-tech solutions during the four-day event visited by more than 90,000 people. The annual tech event, run by the mobile industry network Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), is one of the l

February 26, 2024

Online apparel giant Musinsa to kick-start incubator program for fashion designers

SEOUL -- South Korea's online apparel giant Musinsa will kick-start its incubation program for fashion designers who dream of launching their own startups and ventures. The online shopping mall operator has been nurturing young designers through a series of incubation programs including a mentoring system that connects veteran designers and those who just stepped into the professional world of fashion. Established in 2003 as a small online fashion community, Musinsa has since

February 26, 2024

Pulmuone provides culinary robot for stir-fried dishes to highway rest stop

SEOUL -- Pulmuone Food & Culture, the cafeteria service management wing of Seoul-based food company Pulmuone, has deployed robot chefs that can cook eight stir-fried meals, such as fried rice, to a highway rest stop in Ansan, located in the southwest of the capital city. Using ingredients provided by human chefs, the culinary robots automatically perform cooking tasks, such as pouring oil into pans and adjusting the heat. Pulmuone Food & Culture said its robot called "

February 23, 2024

BTS' 'Dynamite' music video explodes past 1.8 bln views on YouTube

SEOUL -- K-pop wonder BTS' smash hit "Dynamite" has reached another milestone, surpassing a staggering 1.8 billion views on YouTube, the seven-member band's music label Big Hit Music announced today. This marks the first time a BTS music video has achieved more than 1.8 billion views on YouTube. Released in August 2020, Dynamite is a vibrant disco-pop anthem that embodies hope and positivity. The infectious track resonated deeply with fans worldwide, pro

February 23, 2024

BTS' agency HYBE to hold all-star music festival on western island in June

SEOUL -- HYBE, the entertainment company behind popular K-pop groups like BTS and TXT, will hold a two-day music festival called "2024 Weverse Con Festival" at the luxurious Inspire Resort on Yeongjongdo Island, located west of Seoul, on June 15-16. Originally launched as a year-end event in 2021, the Weverse Con Festival has evolved into a full-fledged outdoor festival designed to transcend genres and generations, offering a unique and immersive experience for fans.

February 23, 2024

Le Sserafim's mini album "Easy" sees surge in popularity in Japan

SEOUL -- Le Sserafim's mini-album "Easy" is experiencing a surge in popularity among Japanese fans. A total of 72,356 copies of the album were sold in Japan on its release date, setting a new record. According to the group's agency Source Music, this sales figure was recorded on February 22, marking about a 25 percent increase compared to the first-day sales of the band's previous album, "UNFORGIVEN." Through Easy, the five-member band delves into

February 22, 2024

LG Energy Solution signs supply deal with China's Changzhou Liyuan to receive 160,000 tons of cathode materials

SEOUL -- LG Energy Solution, the battery-making wing of South Korea's LG Group, signed a supply deal with China's Changzhou Liyuan New Energy Technology to receive about 160,000 tons of cathode materials for five years. This amount is enough to produce one million batteries for electric vehicles with maximum travel distances of more than 400 kilometers. Cathode materials play a crucial role in determining the capacity and voltage of batteries. Changzhou Liyuan New Energy T

February 22, 2024

[OPINION] Indonesia Election – Victory for Democracy, with Global Significance

KENOSHA -- On February 14, major national elections took place in Indonesia. The results, especially in historic context, are a victory for democracy. An enormous nation wi

February 22, 2024

Turkish Embassy in Seoul celebrates test flight of homemade 5th-gen fighter jet

SEOUL -- The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Seoul sent out a congratulatory message to celebrate the successful maiden flight of Türkiye's homegrown fifth-generation jet fighter known by its nickname "KAAN." The fighter jet formerly known as "TF-X" and "Milli Muharip Uçak" is a stealthy twin-engine all-weather air superiority fighter that is being developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and sub-contractor BAE Sy

February 22, 2024